Useful Information

Health Information

The Maldives is not a dangerous destination from the sanitary point of view: in fact vaccinations are not mandatory. Only in case you come from areas with the risk of yellow fever you need to have a valid international vaccination certificate. You must consider that at the Maldives you will change your climate and food customs. Pay attention to the air conditioning, to the sunstrokes, to the burnings and to the food which is often very spicy. Bring with you your usual medicines, intestinal flora disinfectant, anti-emetic, painkillers, antifebriles, and creams against burnings, band-aids, antibiotics, disinfectants for scares and ear-drops. In the last years, many resorts operate disinfestations against mosquitoes, but in case you are allergic to them, take a specific repellent with you. While you shower, remember to wash your ears with fresh water, better if you do it more times a day and after each bath: sometimes the plankton can cause otitis with fever. In case of ear pain, before taking any medicine, it is better to consult a doctor, as there are different inflammation types. If necessary, it is possible to call a seaplane to take the patient to the nearest hospital. If you are not insured, the cost can be very high and depends on the distance of your resort from the hospital. Seaplanes cannot fly during the night.

Main Hospital
Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH)
Kanbaa Aisa Rani Higun, M, 20402, Male' Tel: 3316647.

Technology

Up-to-date technology and international satellites allow Maldives to have a sophisticated communication system. From the resorts it is possible to use the IDD telephone (expensive), one own mobile telephone (sometimes the outmost atolls are not enabled), send fax and connect to the Internet. On all the inhabited islands it is possible to call from public places with card phones. Dhiraagu, the Maldives Communication Company, provides mobile telephones for rental and is also the local Internet provider. Since a few months another mobile telephone operator is active: the Arab company Wataniya. The SMS can be received and sent (provided that the roaming exists) , but it is not possible to send them with all operators. It is advisable to check in advance with your telephone operator. In Male' there is some Internet points where you can download your mail or surf the Web and almost all resorts have an Internet point too. Some of them supply the connection in the rooms. On the live-aboard it is hard to find it, but some of them are already equipped. Very often the only way to connect your own pc to the net is with a pre-paid Maldivian card and with the mobile phone via GSM or GPRS.

Electricity

The electric system is 230-240 Volts. In many resorts the adaptor is not necessary, but many still have the English triple plugs. In these cases the reception supplies the adaptors. Before leaving is better to ask in advance about the plugs used in your resort.

Behaviour In The Maldives

The Maldives is an Islamic religious country. For this reason nudism is forbidden whether on the beaches and in the sea. However in some islands topless is allowed. It is better to always have the bathing suit with you, in case Maldivian people are in the neighborhood. Anyway, it is always better to ask the resort staff which is the most proper behaviour. During trips to the capital and to the fisherman’s villages, men dress-code is usually short trousers and T-shirt, while women dress-code is usually a T-shirts and skirts or short trousers, as women must be always covered from the shoulders to the knees.

Behaviour In The Sea

Do not touch anything in the water. Do not touch the corals or any other rock with your fins. If you need to stand, find a sandy place. Do not touch the corals with your body, as it can irritate your skin. Shoes with sturdy soles are not necessary: in the lagoon you can find small pieces of dead coral, but it is easy to avoid them. Do not pick up anything. Each removed thing damages the marine ecosystem. Shells, for example, which are usually collection objects, play a very important role. The triton, for example, is the sole natural enemy of the Acanthaster plancy. This is a marine star that can eat up to six square meters of reef in one month. Unfortunately the tritons’ shells are very required and they have been almost exterminated, even if they belong to a protected species. Without their enemies, this marine star has multiplied without control and the consequence has been the destruction of many reefs. Also the empty shells should be left where they are, as they often host hermit crabs, which must continuously change their “house”, according to their growth rhythm.

Sun

The tropical zone receives the rays of the sun more directly and very often tourists spend the first days of their holiday in their rooms for serious sunburns or even fever. It is therefore necessary to take some precautions. During the snorkeling, remember to use a T-shirt, to put the high protection cream on your neck, on your arms and on your legs, unless you are not brown.

Sports

Many sports at the Maldives are linked to the sea: snorkeling, diving, wind-surfing, parachuting, sailing, canoe, fishery, water-skiing, swimming etc. In the resorts you can also play volley, football, bowling and ping-pong. Only in some resorts you can play golf, tennis, squash, archery, aerobic etc. The most practiced activity is snorkeling: you just need to know how to swim and have a snorkeling kit to live an unforgettable experience. Almost all resorts allow the deep-sea fishing at the dawn or during the day on their speed boats. It is very expensive, even if it can be a very funny experience for those who love this sport. Sometimes you can practice it also on the live-aboard.

Diving

All resorts have a diving which organizes diving trips and courses for beginners or advanced. Everyone can use his own equipment (except weights, provided free of charge together with the belt) or can rent it locally. All the divers should have a physical fitness certificate, otherwise they should be visited by the island doctor or, in case the doctor is not there, sign a declaration. Each diver must sign a document, vouching he dives on his own responsibility, and perform a check-dive.

Snorkeling

There are two ways of snorkeling: you can remain on the water surface looking below or you can arrive more in depth to observe the ocean bottom and feel yourself part of the sea. In many resorts, especially those with a far reef, daily trips are organized for the snorkeling. It is possible to meet eagle rays, stingrays, reef sharks, napoleon fishes, tortoise and obviously all the reef fishes.